Have democracy vouchers delivered on their promise to make Seattle elections fairer?

Among the many races Seattle voters will weigh in on during the upcoming election, there’s a city council seat up for grabs. Current Position 8 Councilmember Tanya Woo is looking to defend against challenger Alexis Mercedes Rinck.

While Woo and Rinck try to differentiate themselves down the home stretch, they have at least one thing in common. Both are the latest candidates to take part in an election experiment meant to level the financial playing field for office-seekers: Democracy Vouchers.

If you live in Seattle, there’s a good chance you opened up your mailbox during this election cycle, and pulled out an envelope containing these vouchers.

The bright blue slips of paper are kind of reminiscent of Kohl’s cash. Or Monopoly bucks.

But instead of exchanging them to buy a new sweater or to capture Park Place, you can use them to donate to candidates running for local office, like the city council, mayor, and the city attorney.

Next year, democracy vouchers are turning 10 years old. 

Back in 2015, advocates made some ambitious promises about the potential of democracy vouchers: they would revolutionize campaign financing and inspire nontraditional candidates to run for office

Voters will get to decide next year if they want to extend the democracy voucher program. 

So - have democracy vouchers delivered on those promises? 

Soundside host  Libby Denkmann sat down with one expert, Dr. Jennifer Heerwig, an associate professor at Stony Brook University in New York, to find out.  Dr. Heerwig has explored the impact of democracy vouchers in Seattle with a new book she co-authored, called Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle.

Guest

• Dr. Jennifer Heerwig, associate professor at Stony Brook University, and co-author of Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle.

Related links: 

• 3 Big Ways Democracy Vouchers Changes Seattle's Elections at Town Hall Seattle